The Best Hotels in Derry/Londonderry for Every Traveller

Hotels in former banks can often be gorgeous, benefiting from the high ceilings, city centre locations and ornate facades of their former incarnations. Shipquay Hotel is no different, set in a Grade II-listed townhouse constructed in 1895 in the italianate style for the Provincial Bank of Ireland. Many of the 21 boutique rooms have views of the city and Luxe VOYA Organic Beauty products in the bathrooms. Shipquay Restaurant does great brunch – try the Walled City Fry with artisan pork sausage, dry cured bacon, Clonakilty black pudding, grilled tomato and portobello mushroom.

The Belfray is south of Derry/Londonderry city on the A6 – a short drive into town. Inside, the hotel is all wood-panelled walls and deep blues, golds and reds in the rooms, which all have memory foam mattresses. There’s all day dining in the Belfray Bistro and fine dining in the Palace Restaurant. Ness Country Park is close by and features a waterfall walk and plenty of unspoiled countryside around Burntollet and Ness Woods. You’re handy here for The Giant’s Causeway too, just an hour northeast by car.

Right on the River Foyle just a couple of hundred metres from the Guildhall and Peace Bridge, City Hotel Derry is located in an imposing building with 158 guestrooms, including a Penthouse Floor of luxury rooms and suites. You can’t get a much better spot from which to enjoy the Halloween carnival, an eight-day fright-fest which makes Derry/Londonderry one of the world’s premier Halloween destinations. Hervey’s Roof Terrace on the seventh floor claims to be the only roof terrace bar in the city, with a faux grass floor, artificial hedging and lounge areas, outdoor heating and a private event bar.

Bishop’s Gate Hotel is just across from the Derry Walls, where visitors can explore the intact 17th-century enclosure of the city, featuring 24 restored cannons and seven gates. The listed Edwardian-style hotel has plenty of history of its own, having once been the headquarters of a club of local gentry who had served in the Crimean War, with Winston Churchill and W.B. Yeats among the visitors. The Edwardian heritage is reflected in the dove greys, plum, gold and muted moss greens of the decor in the 31 guestrooms, which include two suites and an apartment. The Wig Champagne Bar is the best spot in Derry/Londonderry for a fireside glass of bubbles.

This modern hotel is centrally located within the historic city walls just around the corner from the bars and restaurants of Shipquay Street and Waterloo Street and has 90 rooms and three suites. The Maldron does a mean afternoon tea in the Lyric Bar – available from £12.50 per person or £15 with a glass of sparkling wine – including finger sandwiches, butter, cream and jam with your scones, a selection of mini desserts and freshly brewed coffee or tea. There’s also live music every Saturday night from 8pm.

If you’re happy to be a little way out of the city centre, Waterfoot Hotel is a great option by the eastern banks of the River Foyle. You can walk into town via the river bank path, St Columb’s Park and the Peace Bridge, in around 30 to 40 minutes. There’s plenty to keep you entertained at the hotel as well, particularly if you’re lucky enough to be staying in the Ambassador Suite with its jet baths, double sinks and bespoke toiletries. Snug Bar has regular live music and is a prime spot for enjoying a pint of stout and a bit of craic with the regulars. Don’t miss the Sunday carvery either, with entertainment for the kids if you’ve brought the family, featuring dressed up novelty characters.

A smart purpose-built hotel, Da Vinci’s is close to the banks of the River Foyle, 15-minutes’ walk north of the city centre. The 64 bedrooms offer more space than many hotels in the heart of town and provide complimentary newspapers and bespoke toiletries, while the Morrisons Suite has a super king bed and vanity area. The wood-panelled Da Vinci’s Bar opened in 1986 and was one of the city’s Famous Five top bars, all named after painters. The Irish Breakfast is recommended, and includes white pudding, potato bread and soda farl, a quadrant of flatbread particular to Northern Ireland.

Right in Bogside, Abbey Bed and Breakfast is where you want to be if it’s Derry’s history you’re keen to explore. It’s a short walk from the Museum of Free Derry, Free Derry Corner with its mural reading ‘‘You are now entering Free Derry’’ and the Derry Walls. Get a Full Irish or continental breakfast to start your day in the Abbey Studio Tea Room, which also serves soup, Irish Stew, wraps, paninis and sandwiches. The walls are covered in memorabilia celebrating the colourful musical history of Derry/Londonderry.

Charlotte House is a relatively new guest house close to Ulster University’s Magee campus in a residential street to the north of the city centre. The rooms feature dark tartan carpets and lots of glass table tops, with silver and grey prominent in the decor. You can be at the Guildhall in the centre of Derry/Londonderry in 15 minutes on foot. There are watersports, angling and a cafe by the lake at Creggan Country Park is five minutes’ drive away.